Industry Briefs: January 14, 2013

A roundup of additional company and people news from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, their suppliers, and contract-service providers.

Jan 17, 2013

By PharmTech Editors

ePT--the Electronic Newsletter of Pharmaceutical Technology

Company News

Agensys, an affiliate of Astellas Pharma, has opened a new R&D facility in Santa Monica, California. The company’s current 250 employees and contractors will move to the new 160,000-ft2 facility during the next few months. At capacity, the buildings will hold just over 300 employees. Read More

Almac is expanding its drug-product pharmaceutical-development services with the creation of a new non-GMP formulation-development facility and two new analytical laboratories at its Craigavon, United Kingdom, headquarters. Read More

Biotest Pharmaceuticals has entered into a long-term manufacturing, supply, and license agreement with ADMA Biologics (ADMA). Under the agreement, ADMA has agreed to purchase exclusively from Biotest its worldwide requirements of respiratory syncytial virus immune globulin manufactured from human plasma containing RSV antibodies. The initial term of the agreement is for 10 years. Biotest will receive payment for manufacturing services provided under the agreement as well as a percentage royalty on ADMA’s product revenues up to a specified maximum. In exchange, Biotest has agreed to provide manufacturing services and granted ADMA a license to use Biotest’s proprietary fractionation and purification manufacturing process for intravenous immune globulin. Read More

Catalent Pharma Solutions plans to make a major investment to expand its inhalation drug-development, delivery, and supply capabilities by enhancing its Inhalation Center of Excellence in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The $20-million planned investment will focus on expanding pressurized metered dose inhaler clinical and commercial supply capabilities, as well as other enhancements to the facility. Read More

As of Jan. 1, 2013, the Eisai Machinery companies in Germany, China, and North America, were renamed to Bosch Inspection Technology following the acquisition of Eisai by Bosch in April 2012. In addition, Bosch Packaging Technology K.K. and its Japanese subsidiary Eisai Machinery Co. completed their merger into Bosch Packaging Technology K.K. Read More

Hamilton Storage Technologies has opened a new, 52,000-ft2 facility in Franklin, Massachusetts. The facility will serve as the sample management division’s headquarters and the East Coast competence center for Hamilton Company, a company that specializes in the design and manufacture of liquid-handling, process-measurement, robotics, and storage solutions. The facility, which will replace two separate facilities located in Hopkinton and Milford, Massachusetts, includes 30,000-ft2 of manufacturing space with a customizable, open-floor plan. Read More

Marken and BioStorage Technologies have formed a new partnership for the Singapore region that is intended to provide clients with full access to their biological samples at all times. Read More

In other news, Marken has opened a new, expanded pharmaceutical depot in Mexico City. Read More

People News

AMRI has named Richard A. Saffee vice-president and general manager of its large-scale manufacturing division. Read More

SCM Pharma has appointed Mark Edwards as quality assurance director to manage the company’s quality control function. Read More